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Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cathcil.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm
HARUT SASSOUNIAN SPEAKS AT THE 110TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE REVOLUTION OF ZEITOUN
The Union of Zeitoun Armenians organized on November 9 a celebration of the
110th anniversary of the Zeitoun Revolution. The event held at the Der
Melkonian Hall in Bourdj Hammoud, was sponsored by His Holiness Aram I.
The event attracted community leaders including Primate of the Diocese of
Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, the Armenian Ambassador in Lebanon,
Vahan Der Ghevontian, mayor of Bourdj Hammoud, Antranig Meserelian, clergy,
representatives of political, cultural organizations and unions of other
regions, in addition to a large public.
In his opening remarks the union's chairman, Berge Arabian, said 110 years
after the "greatest victory in the history of Zeitoun and Cilicia,"
Armenians are gathered "to send good news to Zeitoun through their
survival." He stressed that the descendants of Zeitount's Armenians will
bravely defend their nation's rights in their respective communities.
The legacy of the Zeitoun Revolution was then revived through poetry and
music by performances by Hagop Mikaelian, Alina Guilvanessian-Dakessian,
Arek Dakessian, Anayis Nenedjian-Gedigian and Ani Yepremian.
The speaker of the event, Harut Sassounian, stressed that in their struggle
today Armenians should follow the steps of the brave Zeitountsi that fought
in the revolution.
Himself a descendant of Zeitoun Armenians, Sassounian said that the means of
the struggle have changed today, but the challenges remain the same:
surviving as Armenians and defending the Armenian nation's rights.
The speaker pointed out that the Armenian Cause is an international Cause
today and said the results of this week's US congressional elections have
possibly created a positive situation for the pursuit of the Armenian Cause.
He added that Armenians should not only block Turkey's membership to the
European Union, but create opportunities that would cause major setbacks in
Turkey's policy.
Concluding his speech, Sassounian said that the first Armenian school in the
United States was established with the efforts of Lebanese Armenians. He
added that the donation he brought to the Armenian schools of Lebanon was a
"mutual gesture."
The sponsor of the event, His Holiness Aram I, then said that being proud in
the past is not enough, as it is essential to strengthen the present with
the past and to look to the future.
His Holiness Aram I advised looking at the status of Armenian communities,
and particularly the Lebanese-Armenian community, with a spirit of useful
self-criticism. "Presenting everyone as pink and beautiful is not right; on
the contrary, it is harmful and destructive. Self-praise subjects us to
regression and retreat in all fields. We should be realistic and see our
mistakes; we should have the courage to correct our shortcomings and to look
at our future with faith and self-confidence. This is how we can progress as
a community and as a nation with all our communities and throughout Armenia
and the Diaspora", he said.
Commending the donation to the Armenian schools of Lebanon, His Holiness
stated that Zeitoun is not a mere city in the history of the Armenian
nation, but a synonym of bravery for Armenians.
At the end of the event the Catholicos presented the medal of a "Cilician
Knight" to Dr. Sebouh Siserian, a descendent of Zeitoun Armenians, as an
acknowledgement for his contribution to Armenian national life.
##
View the photos here: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos12.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, http://www.cathcil.org/ The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cathcil.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm
HARUT SASSOUNIAN SPEAKS AT THE 110TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE REVOLUTION OF ZEITOUN
The Union of Zeitoun Armenians organized on November 9 a celebration of the
110th anniversary of the Zeitoun Revolution. The event held at the Der
Melkonian Hall in Bourdj Hammoud, was sponsored by His Holiness Aram I.
The event attracted community leaders including Primate of the Diocese of
Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, the Armenian Ambassador in Lebanon,
Vahan Der Ghevontian, mayor of Bourdj Hammoud, Antranig Meserelian, clergy,
representatives of political, cultural organizations and unions of other
regions, in addition to a large public.
In his opening remarks the union's chairman, Berge Arabian, said 110 years
after the "greatest victory in the history of Zeitoun and Cilicia,"
Armenians are gathered "to send good news to Zeitoun through their
survival." He stressed that the descendants of Zeitount's Armenians will
bravely defend their nation's rights in their respective communities.
The legacy of the Zeitoun Revolution was then revived through poetry and
music by performances by Hagop Mikaelian, Alina Guilvanessian-Dakessian,
Arek Dakessian, Anayis Nenedjian-Gedigian and Ani Yepremian.
The speaker of the event, Harut Sassounian, stressed that in their struggle
today Armenians should follow the steps of the brave Zeitountsi that fought
in the revolution.
Himself a descendant of Zeitoun Armenians, Sassounian said that the means of
the struggle have changed today, but the challenges remain the same:
surviving as Armenians and defending the Armenian nation's rights.
The speaker pointed out that the Armenian Cause is an international Cause
today and said the results of this week's US congressional elections have
possibly created a positive situation for the pursuit of the Armenian Cause.
He added that Armenians should not only block Turkey's membership to the
European Union, but create opportunities that would cause major setbacks in
Turkey's policy.
Concluding his speech, Sassounian said that the first Armenian school in the
United States was established with the efforts of Lebanese Armenians. He
added that the donation he brought to the Armenian schools of Lebanon was a
"mutual gesture."
The sponsor of the event, His Holiness Aram I, then said that being proud in
the past is not enough, as it is essential to strengthen the present with
the past and to look to the future.
His Holiness Aram I advised looking at the status of Armenian communities,
and particularly the Lebanese-Armenian community, with a spirit of useful
self-criticism. "Presenting everyone as pink and beautiful is not right; on
the contrary, it is harmful and destructive. Self-praise subjects us to
regression and retreat in all fields. We should be realistic and see our
mistakes; we should have the courage to correct our shortcomings and to look
at our future with faith and self-confidence. This is how we can progress as
a community and as a nation with all our communities and throughout Armenia
and the Diaspora", he said.
Commending the donation to the Armenian schools of Lebanon, His Holiness
stated that Zeitoun is not a mere city in the history of the Armenian
nation, but a synonym of bravery for Armenians.
At the end of the event the Catholicos presented the medal of a "Cilician
Knight" to Dr. Sebouh Siserian, a descendent of Zeitoun Armenians, as an
acknowledgement for his contribution to Armenian national life.
##
View the photos here: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos12.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, http://www.cathcil.org/ The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.